Improvement in liquid-meters



UNITED STATES D. BRAINARD SPOONER, 0F SYRAOUSE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN LIQUID-METERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,211, dated November 21, 1871.

To all twhom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, D. BRAINARD SPooNER, of Syracuse, in the count-y of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Liquid-lVleters5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference bein ghadto the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication, in which- Figure l is a central cross-section of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the yoke, and Fig. 3 is an end view of the same. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the valve-frame, and Fig. 5 is a like view of the anti-friction carriage. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the slide-valve.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several iignres.

This invention relates to that class of liquidmeters known as diaphragm-meters; and the invention consists in certain improvements by which the manufacture is facilitated and the working parts made more durable, and to work with a less degree of friction than heretofore, as hereinafter more fully explained.

In the accompanying drawing, A is the ilexible or rubber diaphragm. B is the main chamber of the meter, in which the diaphragm A Works; and C C are sub-chambers for the valvearms c c. The chamber B is formed by the walls E E, and the sub-chambers C U are formed by the outer walls e e. D D d are the valve-ports, the center one d being the exhaust or eductionport. F is the slide-valve, which makes connection with the arms c c by the yoke j' f. The perforated plates for the diaphragm A to cushion upon at the end of the stroke, and for giving motion to the valve, are shown by a a. The walls E are cast solid, with the exception of an opening through the center of each, and through this opening connection is made between the diaphragm-plates a a and the valve-arms c c, as follows: The opening is closed by a small rubber diaphragm, h, which is secured to the wall E so as to make a tight joint by a metallic packing ring, H. The corners of the packing-ring H,

and also the corners of the Walls E where they would come in contact with the working part of the diaphragm h, are beveled oif, as shown. A stud or bolt, G, passes from the arm c, through the center of the diaphragm la, to the plate a,

and the bolt G is provided with collars g g, which are clamped upon the diaphragm by a nut, i, to make atight joint where the bolt passes through said diaphragm, and these collars having convex faces presented to the diaphragm to support it and relieve it of undue strain or water-pressure. The plates c ce are placed loosely on the ends of the bolts G, and loosely confined, each by a nut, 7c, so that if the main diaphragm A shall strike one of the edges before the other the plate will adj ust itself on the bolt G fairly to the diaphragm, and by this means the durability of the diaphragm is promoted.

To make the valve F work with the least amount of friction I provide a truck or carriage, J j, that relieves the valve of much of the pressure upon it by supporting the pressure that is employed to drive the roller K down the valveapex F for shifting the valve. This carriage is shown by Fig. 5. The valve-frame M, Fig. 4, has four flat projections, m m, upon which the rollers j of the carriage travel or work. The valve F occupies and works in the frame M, and the jaws a of the carriage engage loosely with the crown of the valve, so that the valve will be free to adjust itself correctly to the seat without special care in iitting the carriage thereto. The leading edges of the valve F are made angular, so that at the end of each stroke the edge of the valve partially passes under the frame M, as shown in Fig. l, and this prevents the valve from being lifted from its seat by back pressure of water as it comes up the port or passage D on that side to reach the eduction-port d. These. beveled leading edges of the valve are clearly shown in Fig. 6. The opposite side of the valve is held down Asnug on the seat by the pressure of the roll K.

To prevent the carriage from rising from its bed I also construct the yoke with lianges or guards N N, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. To facilitate the iitting up of the yoke I also cut away the metal at S, Fig. 3, so that the rollers w', Fig. l, tread upon ribs s s, Fig. 3, instead of treading upon a solid face, asv heretofore. This allows the yoke f' to be cast in a single piece, and by this construction the tool for facing the treading-ribs s s can be readily introduced through the open space S, Fig. 3.

O in Fig. 1 is the service-pipe where it enters the meter. The actuating-roller K, for the valve,

receives its actuating force from a dish-shaped Weight, L, that is mounted on the upper end of the spindle Z. This dish or weight is placed immediately before the mouth of the service-pipe, Whereit discharges into the meter, anfLsdthat the water-current coming from said pipe shall impinge upon said disk and add to the working power on the roller K. This weight L can be varied considerably in form; it can be a tlat disk or dish-shaped, as shown, with one or more openings through its central part to separate the current and bring aportion of it more directly \vith in the vessel. T is a three-winged check-valve, that is supported by a light spring, t, so as to offer but little obstruction to a low of water into the meter, but to check any return of water through the meter by iuctuations of pressures in the watenmain or service-pipes by which the register would indicate more than the quantity of water used. The rubber diaphragm is molded in a concavo-convex form, as shown by A, Fig. l, so that it shall not be overstrained by stretching it into shape by use after it is made.

The meter can be used for a gas or liquid.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

isv l. The beveled collars or packing-rings H and collars g g, having beveled or convex faces toward the diaphragm, and the beveled bearingsurface of the walls E, in connection with the ilexible diaphragm and tight wall E, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The disks a. c, placed loosely on the ends of the bolts G so that the disks will adjust themselves correctly to the face of the diaphragm A, as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of the anti-friction carriage Jj with the apex F', valve F, and actuating-roller K, substantially as and for the purpose described.

et. The valve-frame M, constructed with projections m m, as shown in Fig. 4, in combination with the carriage J j F', as and for the purpose herein specified.

5. The valve F, when made with beveled leadend of the stroke to hold the valve to its seat against back pressure, and making connection with the jaws n of the carriage Jj F' by a beveled joint, as and for the purpose specified.

6. Theyokef, when made with the guards N N and open center S, as and for the purpose described.

7. For operating the apex-carrier and valve F, a weight, L, when so arranged as to have its Weight increased by impact of the current from the pipe O, as and for the purpose specified.

8. The valve F, made separate from the apex F', and connected therewith by a loose joint, as and for the purpose described.

9. In a iiuid meter, a molded vulcanized rubber diaphragm having a iiat rim and a concavoconvex or corrugated center as and for the purpose described and represented.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 21st day of November, 1870.

D. B. SPOONER.

F. A. MORLEY. (167) ing edges that engage with the frame M at the 

